January 30, 2026 • 8 mins
Super Rugby Pacific's pre-season has kicked off, with the champions, the Crusaders, beating the Highlanders 33-10 in Timaru.
Assistant Coach James Marshall joined Lesley Murdoch was impressed by what he witnessed, joining Lesley Murdoch to chat about the win.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
News talks, he'd be. It is twenty three minutes past
eight on the Allsport Breakfast Leslie Murdoch and Craig Kerk
keeping you company, and we are now joined by assistant
Crusaders coach James Marshall.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Good morning morning, Leslie. How are you? Oh?
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Look really good and I'm thoroughly enjoyed watching the match
on the YouTube edition for the preseason match against the
Crusaders Highlanders. I thought it was pretty cool, but the
crowd it made a really good spectacle. What did you
make of the match?
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Yeah, it was a nice touch having it on YouTube.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
I know people always trying to chase some footage of
those preseason games.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
So cool that everyone around.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
The world could watch it on the air and the
occasion was awesome. I heard the train was a real
success down a lot of people had a good fun
trip on that, and then just the energy at the
stadium was really impressive. So the boys loved it and
they were looking forward to playing another side for a
long time, sick of playing each other. So I thought
(00:58):
they all did a.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Really good job yesterday, so it was good to see.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, well, people can actually still go back onto YouTube
and find it and watch it, so it's still there
both halves or for twenty minute spells. But just in
terms of it looked really well drilled. I thought the Crusaders,
both both sets of players looked really well drilled. They
knew where each other were and you know, I thought
(01:23):
it was impressive.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
I was really happy with especially how some of the
young guys have had a big preseason with ours first
time and the group really stood up and put their
hands up for selection and throughout this year and future years.
So it was really impressive to see. And then just
some of the guys like Ethan Blackadder man, I thought
he was exceptional yesterday.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Threw himself around.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah, threw himself like he always does and just got
stuck into everything and he had a solid thirty minutes
and looking to build his minutes over the next few weeks.
But he thought he combined really well. Johnny Lee I
thought he was massive. And Oli Methis for a first
time at this level I thought was really impressive as well.
He's got a massive future.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, I thought, you know, there would have been a
lot of eyes on Oli Methis. I thought he was outstanding.
He played that first half, but what he did is
understanding of it and what he had to do. I
thought it was really impressive. He's still only twenty, isn't he.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, he's got a huge future the guy. And I
know a lot of people wondered if he was a
seven or not, but he's really keen to be a seven.
We're really keen to have him as a seven. So
the way he's progressed so quickly through this preseason, things
will happen pretty quickly from I.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Think, and talking of good news stories, Taha Kimera coming
back that hedious acl that he had he got last April,
but he was impressive. I thought he got four confusions.
But apart from that, he ran the team well.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Yeah, I thought he was outstanding. And he's been doing
that all pre season as well. It's been a really
good battle of those two tens, with Rivers and tahargoing
head to head and fighting out for that first round
ten Jersey. It's going to be a good battle over
the next couple of weeks as well. So but stoke
for Tahar to get out there and get through a
(03:12):
good forty minutes, kickers, goals, run the ship really well,
so he'll be feeling very relieved this morning.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Was there anything else to come out of it? And
just talk about the couple of injuries that happened as well.
I mean Dallas McLeod, was that precautionary?
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Was that a Dallas?
Speaker 3 (03:28):
He failed as hia for that will mean he'll have
a twelve day standdown, so he won't be available for
the next preseason game, but should be all right for
a Round one selection if required. And Maloney Kunaave, who
was looking exceptionally dangerous out there. Unfortunately he's done his
(03:51):
handstring so that dono the length of that, but it
looks a little bit longer.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
So real shame for him.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
He'd had a great preseason, He's got so much Allenton.
He was looked like he was touring with some of
the defenders at times in the game yesterday, so disappointing
for him.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah, it's the only bad thing about pre season, isn't it,
because you as coaches must sit back and holding your
breath sometimes.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Yeah, it is, but there's at some point.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
That guys have to take the contact again and prepare
themselves for Around one. So I guess it's just part
of the game, but it is frustrating, especially when guys
like that, get their opportunity and take it and then.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Have a big setback, So really really.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Unfortunate for him.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
It is. Now, what did you take out of it?
I mean, irrespective of the thirty three ten score in
favor of the Crusaders, what did you take out of it?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:46):
From an attack point of view, I was really happy
with some of our new shapes and the way we
interplayed created a lot of opportunities. We didn't finish as
many as we probably should have, but I guess that's
what seasons four. Yeah, I think we had like seventeen
line breaks, so the way we were creating opportunities throughout
(05:07):
the game was I was really happy with some of
our shapes, but hopefully over the next few weeks we
finish a few more of those off. And there's just
a few unforced eras where guys were making breaks and
dropping it or missed opportunities on the easy drawn pass.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
But yeah, like I said, easy.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
A few easy fixes and good starting point for us.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Yeah. So you've got the Blues next in a preseason.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Yep, and we'll have a few more guys back on
deck for that one as well. So like who David
Harvilly should be back online severs George Belle, maybe to
Mighty Williams, depending if he can get get across the
(06:00):
line that he's allowed to play a pre season before
he's supposed to. I think so few opportunities, few guy
opportunities for those guys to get a head out before
round one, because it's come around really quickly.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
It is, what thirteenth of February Friday.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yeah, bring it on.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
I'm pretty excited. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Look, if I's looking forward to a.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Big year, it's like a cast of thousands, you know,
down there at Rugby Park. You see how many people
are there, You've got what fifty.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Yeah, it's a big squad, and the squad's got bigger
to save, so many people being called in and out
throughout the season.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
So twelve and the wider.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Squad this year, which has made what says it's pros
and cons. It's obviously a massive group to manage on
our training days, but it's great to get all these
guys in and a few of the younger guys get
full exposure throughout the year to learn and grow and
just get to be around the experienced players and see how.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
They train, see their daily habits.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
So it's good opportunity for a lot of these guys
and it's awesome for us that they get up to
speed with how we're trying to do things. So if
there is injuries, like there always will be, they're ready
to go.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Very good. And finally, referee Paul Williams, he would have
been puffing a bit after that match yesterday.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Yeah, it's a pre season for everyone. I'm sure he'll
look back and see a few missed opportunities or a
few marginal calls, but that's what it's all about. Like
such a tough job to referee, So yeah, we get
We've got Todd Petrie in this year with us for
the season, who's been awesome at giving us an insight
(07:40):
into how they're looking to change what they're looking at
and a few rule changes which might change the game
a wee bit.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
So now, Paul's a good man.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
He was with us a few years ago, so it
was awesome to get.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
To know him, and yeah, looking forward to seeing how
they all referee the game over the first few rounds
to see what adaptions we have to make.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Absolutely well, James Marshall, thanks so much for coming to
the phone and giving us your insights into that preseason.
We know what is ahead of us, and yeah, we
just loved what we saw and long may that continue.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Appreciate it. Hey, thanks for that.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
It's all good and all the very best for the Blues.
And then the very first match down in Dernedin.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah, yes for that.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Thank you. James Marshall, Assistant Crusaders coach.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
For more from News Talks ed B, listen live on
air or online, and
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on Irradio
News talks, he'd be. It is twenty three minutes past
eight on the Allsport Breakfast Leslie Murdoch and Craig Kerk
keeping you company, and we are now joined by assistant
Crusaders coach James Marshall.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Good morning morning, Leslie. How are you? Oh?
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Look really good and I'm thoroughly enjoyed watching the match
on the YouTube edition for the preseason match against the
Crusaders Highlanders. I thought it was pretty cool, but the
crowd it made a really good spectacle. What did you
make of the match?
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Yeah, it was a nice touch having it on YouTube.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
I know people always trying to chase some footage of
those preseason games.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
So cool that everyone around.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
The world could watch it on the air and the
occasion was awesome. I heard the train was a real
success down a lot of people had a good fun
trip on that, and then just the energy at the
stadium was really impressive. So the boys loved it and
they were looking forward to playing another side for a
long time, sick of playing each other. So I thought
(00:58):
they all did a.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Really good job yesterday, so it was good to see.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, well, people can actually still go back onto YouTube
and find it and watch it, so it's still there
both halves or for twenty minute spells. But just in
terms of it looked really well drilled. I thought the Crusaders,
both both sets of players looked really well drilled. They
knew where each other were and you know, I thought
(01:23):
it was impressive.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
I was really happy with especially how some of the
young guys have had a big preseason with ours first
time and the group really stood up and put their
hands up for selection and throughout this year and future years.
So it was really impressive to see. And then just
some of the guys like Ethan Blackadder man, I thought
he was exceptional yesterday.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Threw himself around.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah, threw himself like he always does and just got
stuck into everything and he had a solid thirty minutes
and looking to build his minutes over the next few weeks.
But he thought he combined really well. Johnny Lee I
thought he was massive. And Oli Methis for a first
time at this level I thought was really impressive as well.
He's got a massive future.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Yeah, I thought, you know, there would have been a
lot of eyes on Oli Methis. I thought he was outstanding.
He played that first half, but what he did is
understanding of it and what he had to do. I
thought it was really impressive. He's still only twenty, isn't he.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, he's got a huge future the guy. And I
know a lot of people wondered if he was a
seven or not, but he's really keen to be a seven.
We're really keen to have him as a seven. So
the way he's progressed so quickly through this preseason, things
will happen pretty quickly from I.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Think, and talking of good news stories, Taha Kimera coming
back that hedious acl that he had he got last April,
but he was impressive. I thought he got four confusions.
But apart from that, he ran the team well.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Yeah, I thought he was outstanding. And he's been doing
that all pre season as well. It's been a really
good battle of those two tens, with Rivers and tahargoing
head to head and fighting out for that first round
ten Jersey. It's going to be a good battle over
the next couple of weeks as well. So but stoke
for Tahar to get out there and get through a
(03:12):
good forty minutes, kickers, goals, run the ship really well,
so he'll be feeling very relieved this morning.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Was there anything else to come out of it? And
just talk about the couple of injuries that happened as well.
I mean Dallas McLeod, was that precautionary?
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Was that a Dallas?
Speaker 3 (03:28):
He failed as hia for that will mean he'll have
a twelve day standdown, so he won't be available for
the next preseason game, but should be all right for
a Round one selection if required. And Maloney Kunaave, who
was looking exceptionally dangerous out there. Unfortunately he's done his
(03:51):
handstring so that dono the length of that, but it
looks a little bit longer.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
So real shame for him.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
He'd had a great preseason, He's got so much Allenton.
He was looked like he was touring with some of
the defenders at times in the game yesterday, so disappointing
for him.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah, it's the only bad thing about pre season, isn't it,
because you as coaches must sit back and holding your
breath sometimes.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Yeah, it is, but there's at some point.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
That guys have to take the contact again and prepare
themselves for Around one. So I guess it's just part
of the game, but it is frustrating, especially when guys
like that, get their opportunity and take it and then.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Have a big setback, So really really.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Unfortunate for him.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
It is. Now, what did you take out of it?
I mean, irrespective of the thirty three ten score in
favor of the Crusaders, what did you take out of it?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:46):
From an attack point of view, I was really happy
with some of our new shapes and the way we
interplayed created a lot of opportunities. We didn't finish as
many as we probably should have, but I guess that's
what seasons four. Yeah, I think we had like seventeen
line breaks, so the way we were creating opportunities throughout
(05:07):
the game was I was really happy with some of
our shapes, but hopefully over the next few weeks we
finish a few more of those off. And there's just
a few unforced eras where guys were making breaks and
dropping it or missed opportunities on the easy drawn pass.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
But yeah, like I said, easy.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
A few easy fixes and good starting point for us.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Yeah. So you've got the Blues next in a preseason.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Yep, and we'll have a few more guys back on
deck for that one as well. So like who David
Harvilly should be back online severs George Belle, maybe to
Mighty Williams, depending if he can get get across the
(06:00):
line that he's allowed to play a pre season before
he's supposed to. I think so few opportunities, few guy
opportunities for those guys to get a head out before
round one, because it's come around really quickly.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
It is, what thirteenth of February Friday.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yeah, bring it on.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
I'm pretty excited. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Look, if I's looking forward to a.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Big year, it's like a cast of thousands, you know,
down there at Rugby Park. You see how many people
are there, You've got what fifty.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Yeah, it's a big squad, and the squad's got bigger
to save, so many people being called in and out
throughout the season.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
So twelve and the wider.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Squad this year, which has made what says it's pros
and cons. It's obviously a massive group to manage on
our training days, but it's great to get all these
guys in and a few of the younger guys get
full exposure throughout the year to learn and grow and
just get to be around the experienced players and see how.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
They train, see their daily habits.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
So it's good opportunity for a lot of these guys
and it's awesome for us that they get up to
speed with how we're trying to do things. So if
there is injuries, like there always will be, they're ready
to go.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Very good. And finally, referee Paul Williams, he would have
been puffing a bit after that match yesterday.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Yeah, it's a pre season for everyone. I'm sure he'll
look back and see a few missed opportunities or a
few marginal calls, but that's what it's all about. Like
such a tough job to referee, So yeah, we get
We've got Todd Petrie in this year with us for
the season, who's been awesome at giving us an insight
(07:40):
into how they're looking to change what they're looking at
and a few rule changes which might change the game
a wee bit.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
So now, Paul's a good man.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
He was with us a few years ago, so it
was awesome to get.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
To know him, and yeah, looking forward to seeing how
they all referee the game over the first few rounds
to see what adaptions we have to make.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Absolutely well, James Marshall, thanks so much for coming to
the phone and giving us your insights into that preseason.
We know what is ahead of us, and yeah, we
just loved what we saw and long may that continue.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Appreciate it. Hey, thanks for that.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
It's all good and all the very best for the Blues.
And then the very first match down in Dernedin.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah, yes for that.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Thank you. James Marshall, Assistant Crusaders coach.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
For more from News Talks ed B, listen live on
air or online, and
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on Irradio
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